Acetylene apparatus.



No. 650,357. Patented May 22, |900.

- M. W.` KIDDER.

I AcETvLENE APPARATUS.

(Applicatiop. tiled Aug. 17, 1899.)

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No. 650,357. Patented May 22, |900.

M. W. KIDDER.

ACETYLENE APPARATUS.

(Application led Aug. 17, 1899.) v(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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No. 650,357. y

M. w. Klonen. AcETYLENE APPARATUS.

Patented May 22, |900.

(Application led Aug. 17, 1899.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3` (No Model.)

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UNTTED STATES PATENT Orrin/n.

MOSES iV. KIDDER, OF LINCOLN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO PERSON NOYES, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS.

ACETYLNE SPECIFICATION forming part of Lettersfatent No. 650,357, dated May 2.2, 1900. Application iiled August 17, 1899. Serial No. 727,486. (N0 13106613 To rtZZ whom if; may concern.-

- Be it known that I, MOSES IV. KIDDER, of

`proceed to describe and claim.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a vertical sectional view of a generator embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a top plan View of an apparatus comprising a series of the generators shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 represents a side elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 represents a perspective view illustrating the connections between the series of generators shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are sectional views of valves hereinafter referred to.

The same letters and numerals indicate the same parts in all of the figures.

Referring to Fig. 1, cv represents a casing which is preferably of cylindrical form and is provided at its upper portion with a gas-outlet b,which may communicate with a suitable gasreservoir fm, hereinafter referred to.

' c represents a carbid-holder which is of reticulated construction to permit the ready escape of the slaked carbid through its bottom and the access of steam to the carbid in the holder, the holder being preferably composed of a cylindrical wall or body 2, of woven wire, and a bottom 3, formed as a grate, with suitable orifices for the escape of slaked carbid. The holder c is located in the upper portion of the casing, the lower portion of the latter constituting a pit or receptacle for the slaked carbid. The holder cis movably supported in the casing, so that it can be shaken or agitated to dislodge the slaked carbid. I prefer to mount the holder so that it can be rotated on a vertical axis and provide means whereby it may be oscillated or partly rotated in opposite directions on said axis. To this end the holder is affixed to a vertical shaft d,

the ends of which bear in suitable steps on lthe bottom and top of the casing. A shaking device is employed comprising a shaft e, j ournaled in a gas-tight bearing e in one side of the casing, said bearing being preferably constructed like an ordinary stufng-bo'x. The inner end of the shaft is connected with the holder c by means of a gear-Wheel f, attached to the shaft, and gear-teeth g 0n the holder, meshing with the wheel f, the teeth g being preferably arranged to form a continuous gear extending around the margin of the bottom of the holder. The outer end of the shaft e may be squared to be engaged by a crank or handle, whereby the shaft may be turned to move the holder c.

' h represents a steam-pipe which admits steam to the casing a, the steam reacting on the carbid in the holder c. Low-tension or wet steam containing particles of water mechanically suspended is employed and is given access to the carbid in the holder by the foraminous construction of the latter. I

prefer to utilize the shaft d as an additional means for introducing the steam into the holder, and to this end I make the shaft hollow and provide it with numerous perforations CZ, a part of which are below the bottom of the'holder and a part above. 'The steam enters the lower portion of the casing and passes into the shaft through the vperforations below ythe bottom of the holder and into the carbid through the perfor-ations above the said bottom.

i represents a steam-distributer, which is a fixed annular chamber surrounding the shaft d and secured thereto and receiving the pipe h, said distributer having suitable perforated outlets fi', arranged to distribute the steam. The pipe 7L may also be perforated, as shown in Fig. 2. The casing is provided in its top with an opening j for the introduction of carbid to the holder c and at its lower portion with an opening o'for the removal of the slaked carbid which falls from the holder. Said openings j and 7e are provided with gastight covers j' 7c'. The periphery of each of said covers is preferably a segment of a sphere, and thus tightly close the opening. j2j3 and screws k2 las secure the covers in place.

In connection with the improved generaso that it may bear closely on its seat, Yokes y IOO tor above described I show means controlled by the accumulation of gas furnished by the generator for supplying steam to the generator when the volume of the accumulated gas is reduced to a predetermined point and tor stopping the supply of steam when -the volume is suitably increased.

m represents a floating gas-holder, which is an inverted tank or receptacle having its lower open end immersed in a sealing liquid contained in a tank m', the gas-outlet pipe b entering said tank` and delivering the gas to the holder in, which rises and falls in the tank.

n represents a .steam-boiler which is heated by a burner o, the flame from the burnerimpinging against the boiler and generating steam therein. rlhe burner may be like that of an ordinary kerosene-lamp stove.

p represents a water-reservoir located above the boiler n and communicating therewith through a pipe p', which extends to the lower portion of the boiler. The reservoir p has an inner inverted cup p2, the contracted mouth p4 of which is adapted to supply water automatically to the reservoir p, and has a valve p3, which closes when the cup p2 is raised fromthe reservoir 19, the whole operatingr like the oil-reservoir of a German student-lamp.

q represents a heat-regulator, which is here shown as an ordinary wick raising and lowering shaft, and r representsa steam-controlling device or valve adapted to shut oft the flow of steam to the casing c.

i The regulator q and valve r are connected by cords or chains q' r' with the floating gashol'der m. The arrangement is such that when the gasholder is raised above a predetermined point by the accumulation of gas therein the regulator will lower the wick and the valve r will close, thus stopping the supply of steam and the generation of gas. When the gas-holder falls below said point, the regulator raises the wick andthe valve r is opened, the generation of steam and gas being then resumed. The chains q r' are preferably without direct connection with the gas-holder m, being connected instead with weights c o, which are located above the holder m and rest loosely in sockets formed for their reception in a bracket t. To the chains q' r are attached rack-bars Q3 r3, meshing with gearwheels g4 r4, affixed to the heat-regulator and valve r. Weights u u, attached to the rack-bars g3 r3, serve to depress said bars when the weights e c are raised by the gasholder m, the said weights o o being heavier than the weights u u, so that when the gasholder falls the weights o o will fall with it until they rest on the bracket t, the weights est Bbeing thus caused to raise the rack-bars q r Y s represents a safety device which comprises a tank or receptacle adapted to hold a sealing liquid, such as water, although a noncongealable liquid or solution will be used in practice.. The receptacle is partially subdivided by a partition 4, which extends vertically from the top nearly to the bottom. The portion 5 at one side of the partition is closed at the top and receives the gas-outlet pipe s from the gas-holder fm. The portion 6 at the other side of the partition is open at One endof its upper end to the atmosphere. the service-pipe s2 is within the portion 5 and is below the closed top thereof. The gaspressure normally depresses the liquidin the portion 5, keeping the surface of the liquid belour the service-pipe s2, as shown in Fig. l, the liquid rising in the portion 6. In case the pressure should cease temporarily the liquid is equalized in the two parts 5 6, the liquid rising inthe part 5 and covering the lower end of the service-pipe s2, and thus preventing a back iiow of air through the pipe s' into the gas-holder, an explosive mixture in the latter being thus prevented.

s3 represents a relief-pipe which extends farther down into the part 5 than the servicepi pe s2 and is open to the atmosphere, its lower end being normally sealed by the liquid. In ease the gas-pressure becomes excessive it depresses the liquid in the part 5 until it unseals the relief-pipe s3, the excess ofgas then escaping through said pipe until the pressure becomes normal, when the liquid rises in the part 5 and seals the relief-pipe.

s4 represents a safety device to prevent combustion in the service-pipe from being communicated to the gas-holder, said device comprising a casing forming an enlargement of the service-pipe and having a series of ine Wire-gauze diaphragms 7, which act on the principle of the Davy lamp.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a series of generators similar to that described, the casings ct of the series of generators being connected by a system of pipes` so arranged that the steam is delivered first to one of the casings and after filling the latter passes on with the gas generated in that casing to the next casing, and so on until all the casings are iilled, the gas passing from the last casing of the series to the gas-holder m.

The preferred arrangement of pipes connecting the series of tanks is shown in perspective in Fig. 5 and in plan and elevation in Figs. 3 and 4. h is the steam-supply pipe entering a valve-casing h2, from which radiate a series of branch steam-supply pipes h3, one entering each casing a. A valve h4 is contained in said casing and is formed with a port h5, adapted to connect the supply-pipe h with one, and only one, of the branch pipes h3. Hence steam passes from the pipe h to only one of the casings a, the valve being movable so that either of the casings may be selected to tirst receive the steam. Each casing a has a gas and steam outlet conduit b b2 b3 extending from its upper portion to the lower portion of the next casing, so that the gas and steam that escape from the upper portion of `each casing pass to the lower portion of the next until the last casing is reached.

IOO

IIO

The conduit extending from the last casing is connected by a pipe 194 with a valve-casing 196, from which a 'service-pipe 196 extends to the gas-holder. Each of the said conduits is connected by a pipe 194 with the valve-casing 196, and the casing contains a valve 197, having a port 196, Fig. 7, formed to connect the service-pipe 196 with only one of the conduits at a time, the valve being adjusted so that it permits the passage of gas from the lastcasing of the series to the service-pipe 196. 'The valves 197 and h4 may be connected by a rod or spindle x, so that both may be adjustedsimultaneously, the upper valve 197 having a hand-wheel Q0', by which the valves may be turned. By thus subdividing the apparatus into a series of sections (each casing a being a section of the apparatus) I am enabled to reduce each charge of carbid to the minimum, thus contributing materially to the safety and economy of the apparatus.

The portion 192 of each conduit is provided with a shut-oif valve 196, so that one section can be used alone, if desired.

In Fig. 3, a, a', a2, and a6 represent the four sections connected by the pipes, as shown in said figure and in Fig. 5. If valve h4 in the casing h2 is adjusted to let steam into the pipe h6 that leads to section a, the other pipes h6 will be inoperative, and the steam will pass through the section or tank c and pass with gas from the upper part thereof through the connections 19,19`, and 193, to the section marked ct', through which the gas and steam rise, taking up more gas, and'then passing in the same way to the section 0.2, and so on, the mixture passing finally through the section a6 and out through the pipe 19', leading therefrom. The valve 199 of this last connection will be closed and the gas will pass through the pipe 194 to the valve-casing 196, the valve in which is adjusted to connect this particular pipe 194 with the service-pipe 196. All the other valves 199 are of course open. Il", however, it is desired to use only one tank or section, all the valves 199 are closed and the valves 194 and 19T will be so adjusted that the steam will be admitted to either one of the sections and will pass through the pipe 195 of the connection leading from the top of that particular tank or section and through the pipe 194 leading from that connection to the casing 195 and out through the service-pipe 196.

I claiml. An acetylene-generator comprising a casing having a carbid-inlet and a gas-outlet, a vertical hollow shaft journaled in the casing, a carbid-hold er attached to the shaft and having an open top coinciding with the carbid-inlet, the shaft being perforated both below and above the bottom of the holder,means for moving the carbid-holder to agitate its contents, and means for admitting uid to the casing, the perforated shaft serving both to support the carbid-holder and to deliver fluid to the interior thereof.

2. Au acctylenegeneratin g apparatus comprising a plurality of generators or sections, each having a carbid-holder, a system of con-- duits arranged substantially as described to connect the sections in series, so that steam and gas may pass from one section to another throughout the series, asteam-inlet and a gasoutlet communicating with the system of conduits, and valves coperating with said conduits and with the said inlet and outlet, whereby either section may be made the lirst of the series.

3. An acetylene-generating apparatus comprising a plurality of generators or sections, each having a carbid-holder, a fluid-supply pipe,'a valve-casing, such as h2, communicating with said supply-pipe, a plurality of conduits extending from said casing to the generators, a valve in said casing whereby the fluid-pipe may be connected with either conduit and disconnected from the others, a gasservice pipe, such as 196, a valve-casing, such as 196, communicating therewith, connections between said casing and the said conduits, and a valve in the casing 195 adapted to connect the service-pipe 196 wit-h either conduit and disconnect it from the others.

4. An acetylene-generatingapparatus coniprising a generator, a gas-holder, a sealingtank outside the gas-holder, partially subdivided iuto two parts one of which is closed at the top and the other open at its top, the two parts communicating with each other at their lower portions, a gas-outlet pipe connecting the gas-holder with the upper portion of the closed part, a service-pipe extending from the interior of the closed part at a point below the connection of the gas-outlet pipe therewith, and a sealing liquid in said tank, adapted to normally cover the lower end of the service-pipe, whereby the service-pipe is automatically sealed against an inward How of air in case of a reduction of gas-pressure.

5. An acetylene-generating apparatus comprising a generator, a gas-holder, a sealingtank outside the gas-holder, partially subdivided into two parts, one of which is closed at the top, and the other open at its top, the two parts communicating with each other at their lower portions, a gas-outlet pipe connecting the gas-holder with the upper portion IOO IIO

from the interior of the closed part, at a point Y below the connection of the gas-outlet pipe therewith, a sealing liquid in said tank adapted to normally cover the lower end of the service-pipe, and a relief-pipe extending from a point in the closed part of the tank below the lower end of the service-pipe whereby an excess of gas-pressure is liberated.

6. An acetylene-generatingapparatus,co1n prising a gas-generator having a carbid-holder and a gas outlet, a steam-boiler connected with the gas-generator, and automatic means actuated by the gas-holder for controlling the generation of steam and the supply thereof to the gas-generator.

7. An acetylene-generating apparatus com- 4. esosv prisin g a gas-generator having a carbid-holder and a gas-outlet, a floating gas-holder connected with said outlet, a steam-boiler connected with the gas-generator, a Water-reser- Voir connected with the boiler, a burner arranged to generate steam in the boiler, and,

means operated by the oating gas-holder to control the generation of steam in the boiler.

8. An acetylene-generating apparatus comprising a gas-generator having a carbid-holder and a gas-outlet, a iioating gas-holder connected with said outlet, a steam-boiler connected, with the gas-generator', a heater for said boiler, a heat-regulator for said heater, a valve controlling the admission of steam to the gas-generator, and connections between the gas-holder and the said heat-regulator and valve, whereby the heat is reduced and the supply ofy steam shut off when 'the gasholder rises.

9. An acetylene-generating apparatus comprisinga gas-generator having a carbid-holder and a gas-outlet, a Boating gas-holder connected with said outlet, a steam-boiler connected with the gas-generator, a heater for said boiler, a heat-regulator for said heater, a valve controlling the admission of steam to the gas-generator, Weighted racks'connected With said heat-regulator and valve, and means operated by the rise of the gas-holder for permitting a downward movement of said racks.

l0. An` acetylene generating apparatus comprising a gas-generator having a carbidholder and a gas-outlet, a floating gas-holder connected with said outlet, a steam-boiler connected With the gas-generator, a heater for said boiler, a heatrregulator for said heater, a valve controlling the admission of steam to the gas-generator, Weighted racks connected with said heat-regulator and valve, Weights arranged to be raised by the rise of the gashoidcr, and flexible connections between said weights and the Weighted racks.

In testimony whereof l have affixed my si gnature in presence of two Witnesses.

MOSES W. KIDDER.

Witnesses:

C. F. BROWN, E. BATCHELDER. 

